SUSTAINABILITY FELLOWS PROGRAM
REQUEST FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS
The UNH Sustainability Institute Fellowship program is currently seeking proposed
Fellowship projects for summer 2016. UNHSI Sustainability Fellowships are structured around
two basic tenets: First, that the most powerful learning and professional development experiences
are experiential. Second, that small investments made in getting initial, catalytic projects off the
ground are essential to long-term success in comprehensive sustainability leadership efforts on
the part of local governments, public and private enterprises, and NGO’s.
Ideal Fellowship projects will be challenging and in-depth; have tangible work products or
outcomes; lend themselves to completion in a summer; and allow the selected Fellow to assume
significant “ownership.” The program is competitive – both for fellows and for placements. We
work to ensure that students will have a positive experience for their summer work by selecting
placements where they will be able to achieve concrete goals and develop professional skills.
Each Fellow will receive regular support and mentoring from a UNHSI staff member, but we do
require that day-to-day supervision be made available by staff at the partner institution.
If your project is chosen, UNHSI will work recruit the most talented, motivated applicants
tailored to your project needs, from a competitive national applicant your project. Typically, we
get hundreds of applicants for fewer than two dozen projects from colleges across the country.
We recruit Fellows enrolled in a college or university, and give explicit preference to graduate
students in specific disciplines (according to the needs of the project).
Fellows receive stipends of $6000. Placement organizations that are able to provide matching
funds with UNHSI to support the program will be given preferential consideration, but UNHSI
will accept at least one fellowship per year from a partner that submits a compelling project but
demonstrates a need have the “match” waived.
To submit a project proposal:
Please complete and return the application/agreement to Jennifer.andrews@unh.edu no later
than January 8th. Preference will be given to projects that are likely to catalyze long-term,
sustained, substantial change, and/or that provide a replicable model for others to benefit from.
Also, to partners who have a demonstrated structure in place to support and supervise a Fellow.
If your project is selected we’ll coordinate with you to develop a work plan for your Fellow.
Key Program Dates
8 January
20 January
22 January
25 January
14 February
21 February
14 March
Placement proposals due to UNHSI
Project Placements Notified
Job descriptions finalized
Fellowship announcements posted
Fellow Application Deadline
Interview Dates Identified
Interviews done by
1
21 March
Candidates selected, position offered by UNHSI
1-3 June
Fellows Orientation in Durham NH
***Thursday June 2nd *** Supervisors are required to participate in Orientation
6 June-19 August
Fellowship term
19 August 2015 (Tentative)
Fellowship wrap-up presentations and reception
UNHSI Commitments:
 Fellow Recruitment and Selection: In late January and early February 2016, UNHSI will
aggressively market your Fellowship project to college and graduate students across the US.
Between February 14th-21st UNHSI will select a top tier of candidates for interviewing, and
will handle scheduling and conducting interviews with host participation.
 Project Scoping and Project Plan Development: Concurrently, UNHSI will work with HostSite Organizations to define and craft a detailed 10-week project plan to guide the Fellow.
 Training and Professional Development: For Fellows, UNHSI will host a three-day
orientation session; weekly professional development webinars; access to UNHSI staff and
UNH faculty in both formal and informal settings; mid-term seminars with feedback; a
summative evaluation session; and a final event in which fellows will share their work.
 Mentoring and Networking: UNHSI will provide each Fellow a mentor from its staff.
 Administration and Compensation: Though placed with a host, Fellows are considered fulltime, temporary UNH employees for the 10-week Fellowship period. They are provided a
compensatory stipend of $6000 for an expected 400 hours of work on their projects, to be
completed by the program end date of August 19th. UNHSI will conduct all necessary
administrative paperwork to hire and compensate each Fellow.
Host-Site Organization Commitments:
 Project: Host-Site Organizations and UNHSI will work together to ensure that the final work
plan and products will be both beneficial to the organization and intellectually stimulating for
the Fellow. The Host Organization will commit submit a final, UNHSI-approved work plan
in writing to the Fellowship Director no later than May 13th.
 Training: Consistent attendance at training sessions is important for both the personal
enrichment of each Fellow and for the quality of the project he or she produces. As such,
Hosts must allow Fellows to attend these sessions and actively support their learning. In
addition to the training provided by UNHSI, we encourage but do not require Host-Site
Organizations to provide Fellows with additional training or networking opportunities.
 Supervision: Host-Site Organizations will designate one manager to act as the Supervisor to
the Fellow. This Supervisor is expected to attend the Supervisor Orientation in Durham, NH,
on the afternoon of Thursday, June 2nd, the midterm presentation (via webinar) during the
second week of July, and a final reception on August 19th. (An involved proxy may be
delegated for these latter two events if necessary.) The supervisor will also make her/himself
available for weekly check-ins with the Fellow and the UNHSI Mentor to ensure that the
project is progressing in accordance with the work plan. Finally, the Supervisor will help the
Fellow access information or contacts relevant to his or her project.
 Workspace: The Host-Site Organization is expected to provide their Fellow with an adequate
workspace for the duration of the summer, as well as the use of a computer, phone, etc. If the
Fellow has a disability, the Host will make reasonable accommodations for that person.
 Cost: Host Organizations will pay UNHSI a $3500 “matching” contribution no later than
May 2, in order to partially cover the following:
- $6,000 cash stipend that goes directly to the Fellow.
- UNHSI costs for staff to manage the program, including payroll administration and taxes,
recruitment, training, project mentoring and oversight, and network facilitation.
- Direct cash cost for meals and materials at orientation and final reception, etc.
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Application and Host Organization Agreement
Host-Site Organization:
Address:
Main Contact/Supervisor Name:
Title:
Email:
Phone:
______________________________________________________________________________
1) Project(s) Overview:
2) Project(s) Goal(s) and Anticipated Outcomes/Deliverables:
3) What skills/expertise will the fellow gain from a 10-week placement with your
organization? What tangible products will s/he be able to add to his or her portfolio?
(If you’re suggesting multiple projects, please provide distinct answers for each.)
4) What specialized skills, degree, or experience would a fellow need to succeed in a
summer placement at your organization? (If you’re suggesting multiple projects, please
provide distinct answers for each.)
5) Would you like to participate in the fellow interview process?
If not, could you describe your work environment? How would the fellow benefit from
being part of your community and conversely, how would your community benefit from
the placement?
6) The most competitive fellowship project proposals are those that are likely to catalyze
long-term, sustained, substantial change, and/or that provide a replicable model for
other businesses or institutions to use. Why should an exceptional sustainabilityoriented student choose this project? What makes this project special for the Fellow?
______________________________________________________________________________
___ I have read, and understand, what is expected of my organization as Host Site, am authorized
to commitment to these requirements, and do so commit my organization.
___ I am authorized to commit to participation costs of $3,500 to be paid to UNH by May 2nd.
OR
___ My organization does not have the necessary funds to meet the “match” requirement but
would like to be considered as a fully-sponsored UNHSI Fellowship/s.
Signature and Date
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